Acadia National Park (nps.gov/acad) in Maine became the first national park east of the Mississippi River when it was established in 1919. While Acadia is smaller than most western national parks, its 40,000 acres include a variety of landforms that parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon lack.

Islands

Only 2,000 acres of the park are on the mainland; the rest are located on islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Mount Desert Island, home to the community of Bar Harbor, is the largest. Isle au Haut is accessible by passenger-only ferry, but the park limits the number of visitors allowed. The small portion of the park on Little Cranberry Island can be reached via mail boats year-round or by ranger-narrated cruises during the summer.

Mountains

There are 17 mountain peaks in Acadia National Park. The tallest is Cadillac Mountain, which rises to 1,530 feet above sea level, making it the tallest mountain on the eastern Atlantic seacoast north of Brazil. A winding 3.5-mile long road with scenic view pull-outs leads to the top of Cadillac Mountain. The road is closed from December through mid-April and when heavy fog or ice present dangerous driving conditions. Trails rated moderate to strenuous ascend the pink granite mountain, which was rounded and shaped by glaciers.

Coastal Areas

Throughout the park, Maine's rocky coastline transforms into an intertidal zone perfect for tidepooling and explorations of marine life at low tide. Five miles south of Bar Harbor on the self-guided tour is Thunder Hole, where, when strong winds and tidal surges are just right, waves create booming noises. While much of the coast is rocky, the aptly named Sandy Beach welcomes hardy swimmers who don't mind the ocean's 55° F summer temperatures and is the site of monthly summer ranger-led star-gazing programs.

Ponds

The 22 named lakes and ponds of Acadia were carved by glaciers and are relatively shallow with little or no plant life. At 150 feet deep, Jordan Pond has the greatest depth, while The Tarn is the shallowest at just 5 feet deep. Jordan Pond is also one of 14 considered to be ‘great ponds’ with surface areas over 10 acres. Echo Lake Beach is open for seasonal swimming with water temperatures warmer than those found at Sandy Beach.

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About the Author

Karen Sweeny-Justice is a writer living in Surprise, Ariz. Her work has appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine and "RubberStampMadness" magazine, as well as in newspapers around the United States. She also writes book reviews for "RT Book Reviews" magazine.